Signaling apparatus



Inventor 3 sheets-shet 1 K. isHiBAsHl SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 8, 1937 By l ' l Afforfmyl Feb. 28, 1939.

Feb. 28,- 1939.

K. lsHlBAsl-u S IGNALING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor ,/TS// Attorneys Vm thereof only. clamping said arm against the collar. A spacing l5 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 2,148,695

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAIJNG ArrAnATUs Kay Ishibashi, SanPedln, Calif. Application November' 8, 1937, Seriall No. 173,500 y`1 claim. (ci. 11e-39.)

My' invention relates to'improvements-inV sigtop plate 6 having an enlarged central bearing maling apparatus for use on automobiles. boss 'I opposite the axis of the casing 4. 'Ihe cas- -The primary object of my invention is to proing 4 and plate 6 are detachably secured tov-ide an efficient apparatus of this character gether byscrews, 8 passing through the ends of which; may be readily attached to present day the plate into diametrically opposed lugs 9 on 5 automobiles tor utilize the vacuum created in the said end of the casing, and also byfscrews I0 passintakemanifold of the enginey for selectively ing through the platre B upon Opposite sides of operating a signal arm into dilferent signaling the boss 'Iv into the edges of said casing. A rock positions. shaft II, in the formv of a bolt, is journalled in 102 Another object is to provide apparatus of the the bearing boss 'I and the said end of the casing 10 character and for| the purpose above set forth 4 `to extend transversely of the latter and be embodying a signal arm adapted for illuminayondone side thereof. I'he signal arm I is iixed tion from within the same and illuminated autoat o ne end on the extending end of said shaft I I matically in the different signaling positions between a collar I2- on said shaft and a nut I3 Another object is to provide a deviceV to replace Washer is mounted on the shaft II between the physicalv arm signaling in inclement weather and collar I2k and the casing 4. Fast on the rock shaft at night therebyr obviating danger due to lacl; of IIA Within the casing 4 is a blade-like piston I5 visibility of arm signals and negligence on the preferably formed of two layers of suitable leather 20 part of drivers in signaling under such conditions. composition IB. I'he piston I5 extends at one 20 Other and subordinate objects' are also comendV into an arcuate recess I in the boss 'I to prehended by my invention, all of which toform a seal at said end of the piston. The piston gether with the precise nature of my improve- I5 is operative to rock the shaft II and to move ments will be readily understood when the folthe signal arm I from a normal to stop and right lowing description and claims are read with refand left turn indicating positions respectively. 2'5 erence to the drawings accompanying and form- Iny the normal position thereof said arm I deing part of this specification. pends from the shaft II in substantially ver- In said drawingsrtical position as shown in full lines in Figure 2. 4Figure 1 is a schematic view in elevation illus- In the stop position thereof said arm I extends 3g trating a preferred embodimentof my apparatus, obliquely downwardly from said shaft. In the 30 Figure 2 is a View in rear elevation of a suction right and left turn indicating positions thereof motor forming vpart ofthe apparatus and for said arm I extends from said shaft obliquely upoperating the signal arm, Y i wardly on the one hand and horizontally on the Figure 3 is a View in vertical section takeny other. The piston I5 is operative for moving the through thek signal arm and motor, signal arm I to the described positions by move- 35 Figure4 isa fragmentary view in edge elevament thereof into corresponding positions'heretion of a piston with which the motor is inafter termed normal, stop, and right and left equipped, y turn positions, respectively, such operation of said Figure 5 is a view in transverseY section of a piston being accomplished by exhausting the air 4'6" control valve for the motor, v from the casing 4 at different points in one side Figure 6 is a view in top plan of the base of thereof and by way of a series of exhaust nipples the valve, y I1, I8, I9 and 20, respectively, extending from Figure '7 is a similar view of a valve member said side in spaced apart relation. The nipples settable to different positions in said base. Il', I8, I9 and 20 are spaced, preferably, in the 4:5 Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the valve, arc of a circle concentric to the shaft II to con- 45 and f 1 trol the degree ofmovement of the piston I5 in l Figure 9 is a fragmentary view-in front elevaa manner now to be described. The nipple I1 is tion of the signal arm. i arranged slightly in advance of the normal posi- Y Referring ,to the drawings by numerals, the tion of the piston I 5 to be covered in said position 59] basic elements of my apparatus are a signal arm of the piston by a suction cup 2| mounted on the 50 I, a vacuum, or suction, motor 2 for operating piston by a bracket 22 to wipe against the inner said arm, and a control valve 3- for said motor. face of the casing 4 on the discharge side thereof, First with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the so that in said normal position of the piston, and motor 2 comprises a semi-circular casing 4 havthe signal arm I, suction through said nipple I'I 55 ing `an open front end 5 closedby a rectangular is broken and said piston I5 and signal arm I 55 held in normal position. The remaining nipples I8, I9 and 20 are arranged to be closed by one side edge of said piston I in the stop and left and right turn positions thereof, respectively, to establish in like manner the stop, right and left turn positions of said piston.

Coming now to the control valve 3, as shown in Figures 5 to 8, said valve comprises a dished circular base 23 forming a circular valve chamber 24, a dome like sheet metal casing 25 fitting over the base 23 and removably secured, as by screws 26, thereto, a disk valve 21 tted into the chamber 24 for rotation therein flat against the base 23, and a resiliently mounted lever 28 for rotating said valve member. The valve member 21 is tensioned against the base 23 by means of a spider 29 of resilient metal bearing at its ends on said member, a bolt 30 keyed to and extending axially through said base 23, the member 21. and the center of said spider, and a Washer 3| and a lock nut 32 on said bolt. The hand lever 28 is pivoted at one end to said bolt and secured lto the valve member 21 by a screw 33. The other end of said lever 28 extends through a circumferential slot 35 in the casing 24.

The described valve 3 is suitably secured to the left front post of the automobile and adapted to be ported and connected to the motor 2 and the intake manifold of the engine'to utilize the suction created in said manifold for operating the motor 2 as described in the following.

Y The base 23 has an arcuate recess 36 therein in the chambered side thereof concentric to the axis of the valve member 21 and opening into the chamber 24. An outlet port 31 extending through said base 23 opens into said recess and into aidischarge nipple 38 extending from the bottom of said base. A series of three discharge ports 39, 49 and 4I are provided in the bottom of said base 23 opening into the chamber 24 and into nipples 42, 43 and 44 extending from said base. The ports 39, 40 and 4I are spaced apart circumferentially of the base 23 at the same radial distance from the axis of the valve member 21 and along the outer side of the recess 36. A fourth discharge port 45 extends through the bottom of said base 23 into a nipple 46, the port 45 being at a greater radial distance from said axis of the member 21 than the ports 39, 40 and 4I and spaced circumferentially from the series of said ports 39, 49 and 4I. The valve member 21 is provided in its under face with a radially disposed recess 41 designed to bridge the recess 36 and the ports 39, 40 and 4I, respectively, and to connect the former with the latter upon rotation of said member 21 into different set positions.

, The recess 41 has a narrow extension 48 whereby in another set position of said member 21 said recess 41 bridges the recess 36 and port 45 thereby establishing communication therebetween, sad extension 48 providing for slow return of the signal arm I to normal position. The set positions of the valve member 21 are determined by notches 49 in one edge of the slot 35 into which the lever 29 iiexes. The nipples, 46, 44, 43 and 42 of ports 45, 4I, 4U and 39 are connected to nipples I1, I8, I9 and 20, respectively, by ilexible conduits 5l), 5I, 52 and 53. A similar conduit 54 extends from the nipple 33 for connection of the valve 3 to the intake manifold in any suitable manner whereby under operation of the engine of the vehicle suction is continuously created in the recess 36 of the valve member 21.

Referring at this point to the operation of the invention, as so far described, in theV normal set position of the valve member 21, as shown in Figure '1, the recess 41, 48 bridges recess 36 and port 45, whereby suction is created in the valve casing 4 by way of conduit 50 and the nipple I1 on the proper side of the piston I5 to hold the latter and the signal arm I in normal position by creating a vacuum in the beforementioned suction cup 2|. In this position of the parts, air is admitted to the casing 4 on the other side of the piston I5 by Way of a port 55 in the valve member 21 communicating with port 39 so that air is admitted to said casing 4 through nipple 42, conduit 53 and nipple 20. When it is desired to signal a stop, or a right, or left turn, valve member 21 is rotated, counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 7, to set the same into proper position to establish communication between the recess 36 and port 4I, 39, or 43, as the case may be, thereby creating suction in the casing 4 on the proper side of the piston I5 by way of the related conduit 5I, 52, or 53, and the related nipple I8, 26, or I9, which draws the piston I5 to whichever nipple is concerned. At this point the piston I5 blocks the nipple concerned, in the manner previously described, and thereby establishes the position selected. During setting of the valve member 21 for stop, and right and left turn signaling, air is admitted to the casing 4 on the opposite Side of the piston I5 by way of an arcuate port 34 in the valve member 23 which communicates during such settings with port 45, thereby admitting air to said casing on the proper side of the piston I5 by way of nipple 46, conduit 50 and nipple I1.

A particular feature of my invention is the signal arm I which is hollow, made of transparent material and provided with differently colored front and rear faces 56 and 51, respectively, the rear face being preferably green as indicated in Figure 2 and the front face blue as indicated in Figure 9. 'Ihe opposite ends of said arm I are closed by plugs 58 and 59, said arm being secured to the shaft II by means of the first mentioned plug. 'Ihe plug 58 has suitably secured thereto, within said arm I, an electric light bulb 60 for illuminating the latter and designed to be connected in circuit with a suitable source of current such as the automobile battery. The signal arm I is designed to be illuminated when out of normal position. To this end a switch is provided comprising a pair of cooperating control fingers 6I and 62, one fast on the casing 4 and the other pivoted thereto to gravitate into engagement with the first mentioned finger. The ngers 6I and 62 are suitably, connected in the circuit for the bulb 60. In rthe normal position of the signal arm I a fixed member 63 thereon, of insulating material, engages and raises the movable contact finger 62 from engagement with the fixed finger 6I to break the circuit to said bulb 60. In the other positions of said arm I the fingers 6I and 62 are engaged as and for a purpose which will be clear.

The operation of my inventionhas, it is believed, been set forth in the foregoing in sufficient detail to impart a clear understanding thereof Without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of various modifications without departing from the inventive concept and rightI is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the subjoined claim.

What I claim is:-

In apparatus of the class described for connection to a source of suction, .a motor comprising a fixed casing, a rock shaft rotatably mounted therein and having an endhextending therefrom,

a signal arm fast on said end of the shaft to be the different positions of the piston whereby communication between said source and casing is interrupted and the different positions of the piston thereby established, said means including a suction cup on said piston closing one of said nipples, said cup wipingly engaging said side of the casing and coacting therewith to yieldingly retain said piston in said different positions against operation under gravitational action of the signal arm when the motor is disconnected 10 from said source of suction. Y

KAY ISHIBASHI. 

